KELOWNA, B.C. - The UBCO Heat volleyball teams take center stage at home this weekend as the only Heat teams in action, hosting a pair of doubleheaders against the nationally-ranked Trinity Western Spartans.
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Women's Volleyball
January 23rd vs Trinity Western Spartans - 5:30 p.m. - UBCO Gymnasium
January 24th vs Trinity Western Spartans - 4:30 p.m. - UBCO Gymnasium
Tickets - GoHeat.ca/Tickets
Webcast - CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel
Women's volleyball (5-9) returns home this weekend refreshed after a bye weekend and ready to make a push for the playoffs as they host the No. 9-ranked Spartans (9-5) in their final home games of the regular season.
The last time these two teams met, the Heat earned a 3-0 victory over Trinity Western on the road back in November of 2024. This time around, UBCO will rely on key veterans, including fifth-year middle Natalie Funk, fourth-year setter Kylan Finseth, and second-year outside hitter Korey Jenkins as they look to continue their winning ways against the Spartans.
The trio recently delivered standout performances against the Calgary Dinos in a five-set battle prior to the bye week. Finseth recorded a career-high 44 assists and added a season-best 12 digs. Meanwhile, Jenkins posted a career-high 16 kills, while Funk recorded a career-high 19.5 points.
Following Saturday's matchup with the Spartans, the Heat will recognize Funk, fourth-year middle
Madison Gardner and fifth-year libero
Chloe Ladd who will be graduating at the conclusion of this seaosn.
Men's Volleyball
January 23rd vs Trinity Western Spartans - 7:30 p.m. - UBCO Gymnasium
January 24th vs Trinity Western Spartans - 6:30 p.m. - UBCO Gymnasium
Tickets - GoHeat.ca/Tickets
Webcast - CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel
The No. 3-ranked Heat men's volleyball team (13-1) returns from their bye week to face their toughest test of the season this weekend as they battled the No. 2-ranked Trinity Western Spartans (12-2) for a pair of contests, marking the team's final regular-season home games.
The two teams last met in October during an exhibition match at the Blue Team Cup, where Trinity Western earned a 3-1 win. However, the Heat claimed a 3-1 victory in their most recent regular-season matchup during the 2024-25 season. With plenty on the line as both team's chase down the number one seed in the conference, the action promises to be intense between the two B.C. rivals.
Thys Weststrate, Seba Manuel, and Zach van Geel will be key players to the Heat's success. Weststrate leads Canada West in blocks per set (1.43), while Manuel ranks second in the conference with 193 total kills, placing both first and second nationally at their positions. Van Geel ranks fourth in Canada West with 9.27 assists per set and averages 2.04 digs per set.
Prior to warmup on Saturday, the team will recognize their three graduating seniors, including van Geel, fifth-year middle
Stephen Searcy and third-year opposite
Kyle Robertson who will all be graduating at the conclusion of the season.
